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Born in
Sassuolo (Modena) on 1 December 1973. He obtained a diploma in
mechanics from the ‘Ferrari’ Technical Institute in Maranello.
Bertolini made his debut at the age of eleven in the mini go-kart
category, placing second in the Italian championship. Between thirteen
and sixteen he competed in the higher kart categories at a national
level, before interrupting briefly his racing career.
At nineteen he became the youngest ever Ferrari GT test driver and
worked in the experimental development field.
In the meantime he had started racing go-karts again. Once more he was
successful, securing numerous wins in 1999 and 2000 in the 125 Formula
C category.
In 2001 he was offered the chance to compete in the FIA GT
championship driving for a private Porsche team, and, with the
blessing of Ferrari, took up the opportunity. He performed very well,
resulting in one of Ferrari’s clients, JMB, to offer him a drive in a
360. In the Ferrari he finished a worthy fourth in the FIA GT series.
At the beginning of 2003 his Ferrari career took a different path when
he switched from the Esperienze roadcar department to the Ferrari and
Maserati Corse Clienti. He maintained his role as a test driver. The
following year he continued his driving career with JMB at the wheel
of a 360 GT and 360 GTC.
After winning four races and just missing out on the title, he made
the move to the N-GT category. To his second place overall was added
the ‘Driver Performance of the Year’ award.
This was conferred by a panel of international journalists after
having evaluated the performance of all the drivers participating in
the Super Racing Weekend, an event in which FIA GT, ETCC and other
categories are run. Bertolini was also called in to test F1 cars for
the Scuderia Ferrari. Bertolini is the driver that has developed the
MC12 right from the beginning of the project.
Bertolini is single and lives in Sassuolo. His hobbies include go-karting,
cinema, music and football. His favourite dish is lasagne. |
